End of Summer Activities

On the last week before school started we talked about what some things we still wanted to fit in before summer ended.  The girls wanted to go to the local "beach" and swim. We brought our fishing poles the girls got for their birthday and did some fishing too. A few days later, we went to our friends Scott and Jen's house where the kids did a lemonade stand. They made quite a bit of money as our friends live on a corner lot. The last picture is Mikayla counting out and dividing up the money. Then Jen taught the girls how to husk the corn for dinner.  Finally, I got the fun chore of cleaning out the pool inside and out.  I always have a hard time figuring out how to dry it out as I want both sides to air dry before we package it up for winter. I usually haul it up over some ladders.

 

Mikayla's Birthday!

Mikayla turned 11 on August 3rd. We had some of her friends over for pizza and cake (we did one chocolate and one vanilla cake), then went out to go bowling at our new bowling alley here in Rochester. We came back here to watch a movie.  Mikayla had a few of her best friends sleep over. She had a great time.  She is growing up so very fast. We are beyond proud of her how she has adjusted to middle school this year. She wakes up at 6:30 with her own alarm, gets up (takes a moment to snuggle with us), then feeds herself and gets ready. She has to catch the bus at 7:10.  Both girls are new to riding a bus this year but seemed to have adjusted well to that also. I like that in the morning and after school I have one on one time with both girls since their school is now different times. 

 

Mikayla's American Heritage Girls Camp in August

Mikayla and I went to camp in August. It was at Lake Beauty Bible Camp near the cities. We both got to sleep in a cabin (not the same cabin). The food was great and the weather was perfect each day. Mikayla worked on earning a rock climbing badge, a horsemanship badge (which I taught), and a geology badge. She had a great time reuniting with her best friend, Heidi. I think we both grew a lot at camp. I learned to let go a bit and she gained some confidence.


The horses!



My cabin



The lake we swam at. There was a fun slide and a large bouncy blog thing.



Evening campfire songs and skits



Mikayla scaling a wall!

Reunions!

This summer I had my high school reunion back in Madison, WI.  It was nice to see some of my old friends. Nate and I also got to meet one of our college friends from UW Lacrosse, Vicky. It was good to take the time this summer and reconnect.



Nate and I at the reunion. It was in the rooftop Sculpture Garden in Madison.



Me and my friend Sarah Scarpace.



Kris and I had cheerleading together. She moved to Appleton and was friends with Christine as their daughters were in dance together.



Me and our friend from college, Vicky.

Nate's Birthday

We celebrated Nate's birthday and Father's Day by going to a Rochester Honker's baseball game. We all had a good time even though it was quite hot! Here are the girls with the mascot.

Later in July, Nate's mother had a July birthday celebration for all of those in the family with July birthdays.  They had to wear some awesome hats!

Mikayla loved that her dad was embarrassed by his hat!

Celebrating the girls' birthdays with their cousin Sophia!

We  got together in the WI Dells this summer at the Great Wolf Lodge. We exchanged presents, explored their Magic Quest area, went down countless water slides (including the daunting Howling Tornado Slide).  It would be fun to do again next summer.



It's a blurry photo, but the girls have their magi wands and are enjoying going on quests!



We ate at Buffalo Phils Restaurant. They had a train deliver our food and drinks.



Dad in an amusement game area near the restaurant.



My mom ordered a cake just for the girls to enjoy and blow candles out!



Fishing Poles from Sophia and Brian.



I went on this ride once. That was enough for me!